Understanding the Historical Context Lord of the Flies Understanding the Historical Context

Golding explains, “It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazis. I’d seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazis.”

Island: Microcosm of the Adult World

Historical Context: Adult World Writing period: early 1950s Post World War Two, during the Cold War Enemy: USSR and communism Enemy: dictatorship/ totalitarianism What was the state of the world? What were people’s concerns? norms? expectations? fears?

William Golding: Author Profile Joined the Royal Navy in 1940 Saw action against battleships, submarines and aircraft (involved in the sinking of German battleship Bismark, and D-Day at Normandy)

Before the Second World War I believed in the perfectibility of social man; that a correct structure of society would produce goodwill; and that therefore you could remove all social ills by a reorganization of society. It is possible that today I believe something of the same again; but after the war I did not because I was not able to. I had discovered what one man could do to another. I am not talking of one man killing another with a gun, or dropping a bomb on him or blowing him up or torpedoing him. I am thinking of the vileness beyond all words that went on, year after year, in the totalitarian states. It is bad enough to say that so many Jews were exterminated in this way and that… but there were things done during that period from which I still have to avert my mind lest I should be physically sick. They were not done by the headhunters of New Guinea, or by some primitive tribe in the Amazon. They were done, skillfully, coldly, by educated men, doctors, lawyers, by men with a tradition of civilization behind them, to beings of their own kind… Anyone who moved through those years without understanding that man produces evil as a bee produces honey, must have been blind or wrong in the head. - Golding, The Hot Gates and other occasional pieces, 1965

Island: Mini Version of Adult World Group of British schoolboys crash on the island after being evacuated In 1939, Operation Pied Piper began: relocated citizens to shield them from aerial bombing attacks and potential invasion

War References in the Text Piggy notes, “we was attacked” – the boys plane was presumably mistaken for a military craft and shot down There is the concern that an atom bomb destroyed the military world as they know it “How does he know we’re here?” Because, thought Ralph, because, because. The roar from the reef became very distant. “They’d tell him at the airport.” Piggy shook his head, put on his flashing glasses and looked down at Ralph. “Not them. Didn’t you hear what the pilot said? About the atom bomb? They’re all dead.” Ralph pulled himself out of the water, stood facing Piggy, and considered this unusual problem.

Ralph’s dad is a commander in the Navy “The reds” is a reference to communists Dead parachutist, a sign from “the world of grown ups” is a reminder of human nature’s ability to be cruel and savage The plane crash itself could represent the breakdown of the adult world

Island: Children Imitate Adults The children are evacuated in order to protect them from the harsh realities of war But, the boys begin to replicate the problems of the world they escaped and begin to war with one another Struggle for power Scapegoating Fear Violence and cruelty

The boys are desperate to be rescued by civilization, but is there a civilized world out there to save them? Who will rescue the grown ups?